CricketArchive

Dada will be missed
by CricketArchive Staff Reporter


Player:SC Ganguly
Event:Australia in India 2008/09

DateLine: 5th November 2008

 

As the last test in Nagpur begins tomorrow there will be a couple of moist eyes in the dressing room. With Kumble already having played his last test, Saurav will follow suit. Nagpur being the venue of his last test, he would want to erase all the previous bad memories. India lost the last series against Australia in Nagpur on a green top wicket. He would want to make sure that he goes out on a high this time around.

Champion of umpteen comebacks Saurav made his debut in 1991-92 and was dropped after a single game. He came back after five years in 1996 and scored a century on debut at Lords against England and followed it up with one more. From there he never looked back. In odi's he combined with Sachin to form one of the most deadliest opening combinations in the world, fashioning India's wins. They led India to some famous Odi victories. One of his most memorable innings was his 124 against Pakistan at Dhaka in a final when India chased down 318. He is one of the few elite players to score 10, 000 odi runs take 100 wickets and 100 catches. The others being Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya.

Saurav will always be remembered as a great leader. A leader who changed the face of Indian cricket. He brought about a change in attitude. Indian cricket was reeling under the match fixing saga. He had a bunch of youngsters whom he handpicked, backed, who were aggressive and delivered. He backed the right players who along with a core group of senior players made sure Indian cricket was not passive anymore. Most of the young players today are senior players who are going to be the core group for the next few years. Sehwag, Bhajji, Yuvraj, Zaheer khan, M.S. Dhoni, Pathan, Kaif to name a few. Saurav will always be remembered for the way he tackled the Aussies. He really took the fight into the rival camp. After 16 straight wins Steve Waugh was full of beans going into the Kolkatta test match. India were under the pump. Saurav will always remember three players who turned things around for him. Laxman, Rahul and Harbhajan were the architects of the famous Kolkatta test match. India won the series 2-1

Things changed around for Indian cricket since then and Saurav never looked back. The Indian team started winning test matches abroad which they had never done. Another turning point came in the Natwest trophy final where India chased down a record total of 326. Two young turks Yuvraj and Kaif did the impossible when India were tottering at 150 odd for five. The Youngsters had come of age led ably by Saurav who himself smashed a half century and had a century stand with Sehwag. This was followed by a golden period in Indian cricket. India won the mini world cup in 2002. India also drew the series in England where Rahul Dravid scored over 600 runs. But the biggest one was reaching the finals of the 2003 world cup. The Indian team was at its peak defeating Pakistan, Srilanka, New Zealand, England but could not beat Australia. They were at their peak and ambushed India twice, once in the league phase and once in the finals.

But Saurav did not give up. He went to Australia and smashed 144 on the bouncy Gabba pitch in Brisbane. When there was lot of talk about chin music Saurav gave back in the style only he knew. India went on to square the series 1-1 and regain the Border Gavaskar trophy. Once again his trusted Liuetanant Rahul Dravid responsible for the win in Adelaide with a double hundred. India went on to beat Pakistan in Pakistan in 2004 for the first time ever creating history. Another feather in his cap.

Since then it was downhill for Saurav. Results dried up and Saurav lost his captaincy. He also lost his place in the side. His constant run ins with Greg Chapell led to him having to go through the rigours of domestic cricket. People had written him off Controversies kept dogging him during this period. But the fighter in him was still alive. He was waiting for that one final comeback He finally got his opportunity in South africa where he got a fifty in Johannesburg in a winning cause. From there he never looked back. He has been the highest run scorer for India in the last couple of years with hundreds and double hundreds in Kolkatta and Bangalore. He got dropped from the one day side earlier this year. But shouldered on till finally he decided to hang his boots at the end of the series. He has already got a hundred in Mohali in a winning cause thereby reaching 7000 runs. He would want to repeat that to be only the fifth person to score a hundred on debut and his last test. He would want to desperately do it against his arch rivals Australia whom he has lot of scores to settle

But Saurav will always be remembered for his aggressive attitude, his never say die spirit, his ability to overcome adversity into an opportunity and a fighter who fought against all odds. Under his leadership he made boys into men.

India will always miss Dada

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